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Pumpkins with stars and a comet.

Halloween is a cross-quarter day

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | 1 day ago

The 4 cross-quarter days fall between equinoxes and solstices. Halloween is the spookiest one – derived from a sacred festival of ancient Celts and Druids – coming as days grow short and nights long in the Northern Hemisphere.
A moon just past 1st quarter.

SOFIA finds water on the moon’s sunlit surface

Posted by in Human World | Space | 4 days ago

For the first time ever, scientists have identified water on the moon’s sunlit surface, using SOFIA, an airborne observatory. Water on the moon also appears more widespread than previously thought.
NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson is seen floating in the ISS while Earth's ocean is covered by clouds just outside a window's view.

What astronauts think about life away from Earth

Posted by in Human World | Space | 4 days ago

Axiom is an aerospace company making new possibilities accessible to humanity. Watch as astronauts retell their experience launching from Earth and living in space.

Covid-19 will probably become endemic. Here’s what that means

Posted by in Human World | 1 week ago

Rather than completely disappear – even when vaccines become available- it’s likely that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 will be added to the family of infectious diseases known as “endemic” in the human population.

Top 10 tips for meteor-watchers

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | 2 weeks ago

How to watch a meteor shower. Tips for beginners.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard completed its 7th launch and landing this week

Posted by in Human World | Space | 2 weeks ago

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket successfully launched an uncrewed test flight on October 13, with both its capsule and booster later executing a flawless landing.
The James Webb Space Telescope displays its large and striking yellow sunshield with foldable structures surrounding it.

James Webb Space Telescope passes environmental testing

Posted by in Human World | Space | 3 weeks ago

The James Webb Space Telescope – successor to the Hubble – just passed a series of environmental testing trials, designed to simulate the rigors of its anticipated launch in 2021.

How to see anticrepuscular rays

Posted by in Earth | Human World | 3 weeks ago

Next time you see crepuscular rays – sunrays – at sunrise or sunset, turn around.

SpaceX launched 60 more Starlink satellites this week

Posted by in Human World | Space | 3 weeks ago

After 2 weeks of scrubs, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket blasted off October 6, 2020, carrying 60 more Starlink satellites to orbit. The rocket successfully landed at sea 9 minutes later. Video of the launch and landing here, plus steps taken to reduce the bright satellites’ effect on astronomy.
A close-up image of the sun with a large flare on one portion.

A new method for predicting large solar flares

Posted by in Human World | Space | 4 weeks ago

Solar storms pose risks for society, but more accurate space weather forecasts appear to be coming soon. A team of researchers in Japan has developed a physics-based method for predicting large solar flares, including powerful and potentially dangerous X-flares.

What’s the birthstone for October?

Posted by in Human World | 1 month ago

If you were born in October, your birth month has 2 birthstones: opal and tourmaline.

Which insects have the worst stings?

Posted by in Earth | Human World | 1 month ago

Some of the most painful stings come from tarantula hawk wasps, warrior wasps, and bullet ants.

Coronavirus mutations: what we’ve learned so far

Posted by in Human World | 1 month ago

Geneticists around the world are studying 100,000 coronavirus genomes – sampled from Covid-19 patients in over 100 countries – to try to understand how the virus is mutating, What science has learned.
ISS with spaceships docked.

Astronauts shelter as ISS boosted to avoid orbital debris

Posted by in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

The International Space Station underwent an unscheduled reboost in orbit yesterday, to avoid a collision with an unknown piece of space junk. The 3-man crew was ordered to shelter, but is safe.

A Chinese perspective on autumn

Posted by in Earth | Human World | 1 month ago

In Chinese thought, autumn is with the direction west, considered to be the direction of dreams and visions.

What is a hurricane storm surge?

Posted by in Earth | Human World | 1 month ago

Of all the hazards that hurricanes bring, storm surge is the greatest threat to life and property along the coast.

Advice from an astronaut

Posted by in Human World | 1 month ago

For anyone who wants to grow up and be an astronaut …. here’s a lovely video with advice from ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

What’s in wildfire smoke and why it’s so bad for your lungs

Posted by in Human World | 2 months ago

The health impact of wildfire exposure depends in part on the fire itself and how much smoke a person breathes in, how often and for how long.
Illustration of Perseverance rover in space on Seotember 12, 2020.

Follow the Perseverance rover in real time on its way to Mars

Posted by in Human World | Space | 2 months ago

Keep track of where NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance is on its journey through space toward its February 18, 2021, landing on Mars. This web app shows you where spacecraft is right now.

‘Apocalyptic’ skies across U.S. West this week

Posted by in Human World | Today's Image | 2 months ago

Video and images of the weirdly orange skies across the U.S. West this week, created by massive wildfires that incinerated several communities in Oregon in the past 2 days and blotted out the sun in San Francisco.